Sectional Construction Patents (Class 47/66.1)
  • Publication number: 20110258925
    Abstract: A vertical planter includes stackable planter units each with plural sections in which plural plants can be planted. Each section of a planter unit can have a removable faceplate for placing soil in the planter section and planting plants in the soil, or potted plants can be placed in the faceplate openings. Water is provided to each planter section via a drip irrigation tube fed from a main water supply tube that extends to each planter unit. The drain water from each planter unit drains down through an underlying planter unit and into an underlying water reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Richard L. Baker
  • Publication number: 20110247267
    Abstract: A planter box assembly has a sheet metal frame with two opposed end walls connected by opposed front and back walls. The frame has a bottom opening and an upper peripheral rim. A molded plastic insert has a bottom wall with a plurality of upwardly extending side walls. The insert has a cavity which receives soil and plants. A peripheral flange extends outwardly from the insert side walls over the frame rim, allowing the plastic insert to be supported on the frame. Mounting holes in the frame front and back walls allow the planter box assembly to be mounted to a board or bracket which extends from a vertical post.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventor: David E. Lutzke
  • Publication number: 20110247268
    Abstract: A stackable elevated planter has a rectangular or oval body that holds potting soil. Two or four legs sockets are attached to and extend away from the bottom of the planter body to define a rectangle. Legs are provided such that each leg has one end sized to fit within one of the leg sockets. The legs have a length less that the length of the rectangle and an average width which is less than one fourth of the width of the rectangle such that the four legs can be laid next to one another within the planter body and a similar second planter will fit within that planter. The body of the second planter may be positioned over the four legs such that the leg sockets of the second planter body extend beyond the four legs and the leg sockets of the second planter may rest on the top surface of the base of the first planter. An optional shelf that fits within the planter body for storage and is attached to the legs when the planter is assembled may also be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: Adams Mfg. Corp
    Inventor: William E. Adams
  • Publication number: 20110232174
    Abstract: A raised bed garden assembly, kit, and method are provided. The garden assembly comprises a prefabricated enclosure along with additional components useful for creating a raised bed garden or similar growing enclosure, such as an irrigation system and greenhouse covering. The garden assembly can be provided in a kit for easily establishing a garden and growing fruits and vegetables at home, along with soil and plants. The garden enclosure can be a monolithic, self-sustaining body that is unitarily formed, or it can be modular. The modular enclosure comprises sidewalls and corner members, which are unitarily formed modular pieces that can be detachably-connected to define the enclosure shape. Advantageously, the enclosure is devoid of any non-integral attachment elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: MM&LMPROPERTIES, LLC
    Inventor: Lance Mills
  • Publication number: 20110232189
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a container for cultivating biological material, comprising a solid inert substrate, a growth medium and biological material arranged in or on the substrate, wherein the container is substantially closed, wherein the volume of the container is sterile and wherein the biological material comprises sowing material, and to a method and the use of the container for cultivating biological material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: Jacob Johannes BIJL
  • Publication number: 20110232182
    Abstract: The combination of a container and a growing medium for a plant. The container is made to simulate the appearance of an egg shell bounding a receptacle. The growing medium is provided in the receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: Bradley Emalfarb
  • Publication number: 20110219681
    Abstract: An insulated plant housing is a device extends the growing season for a plant by protecting the plant from frost damage at the beginning or end of the growing season. The device is partially filled with water to insulate the air and soil surrounding the plant from freezing temperatures at night. The device also allows the user to shroud the plant in order to protect the plant from harsh weather conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventor: Gregg Morgan STOCKWELL
  • Publication number: 20110162270
    Abstract: A seed and plant growth medium module includes a seed embedded in plant growth medium which is encapsulated in a biodegradable moisture retaining shell. The shell has a bottom with an upper covering. A root opening is provided in the bottom to allow egress of roots as the seed germinates. A plant egress opening is provided in the upper covering to allow upward growth of a plant resulting when the seed germinates. At least one water entry opening is provided in the shell to allow entry of moisture into the shell to wet the plant growth medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventor: David Larsen
  • Patent number: 7958670
    Abstract: A container surrounding a pole and base stand of a freestanding floor lamp or similar device. The container includes a sidewall integrally attached to a base panel to form a ballast volume, a fixture void, and a wedge void extending into the ballast volume. The container can take on a variety of shapes and can be split into two sections comprising an upper planter section and a lower reservoir section. The upper planter section includes a ballast volume, a pole void and a wedge void and can include a plurality of drain ports with or without integrally attached circumferentially arrayed stands. The lower reservoir section includes a ballast volume, a wedge void, and a base void and can include a watering port. A wedge section can be provided to close off the wedge void and define the aperture in which a freestanding device such as a floor lamp is housed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventor: Maria N Kamau
  • Patent number: 7958671
    Abstract: A semi-circular flexible flower box (top section) and a semi-circular flexible mounting shelf (bottom section), are both functional companion units. The top section functions as a flower box but has a flexible accordion pleat (inside/outside diameters) configured in a semi-circle to allow for attachment to cylindrical objects. The bottom section functions as a mounting shelf for the top section and is structured not only in the same flexible semi-circular fashion, but is designed in such a way as to capture the flower box section allowing it to rest securely on the mounting shelf or bottom section. Configured to the inside or backside diameter of the mounting shelf are slots that allow for insertion of an attachment strap. The attachment strap allows for a precise and snug fit of the mounting shelf and companion flower box, top section to cylindrical objects within the range of the mounting shelf's diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Garden-Aire, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel E. Sheaffer, William P. Camp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7921599
    Abstract: A panel assembly includes a plurality of open faced cells fluidly interconnected for retaining a growing medium and live vegetation in a vertical orientation of the panel assembly. The fluid interconnection of the cells provides for gravitationally induced water transfer from the growing medium of a first cell to the growing medium of a second cell, as well as root growth between the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventor: George Irwin
  • Patent number: 7886485
    Abstract: A planter includes a plant growing container having a chamber formed by an outer peripheral wall, a number of posts erectly disposed on the outer peripheral wall, an upper cover disposed on top of the posts and having a number of channels, and a number of door panels slidably engaged through the channels of the upper cover and engageable between the posts covering or shielding the plant growing container and for preventing diseases and insect pests from entering into the plant growing container. The door panels and the partitions and the posts may be engaged into the container for forming a compact folding structure and for storing and transportation purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventor: Song Chen
  • Publication number: 20110016782
    Abstract: A plant growing assembly is configured to grow a plurality of plants in multiple directions above a ground surface. The assembly includes a growing container and a support structure for elevating the container above the ground surface. The container presents a generally hollow body to retain a plant-growing medium and the plurality of plants. The body extends along an axis to present opposite axial end margins and a radial peripheral wall. The wall defines a plurality of discrete plant-receiving ports extending therethrough, and disposed generally radially about the wall. A method of growing plants above ground in substantially opposite directions from one another is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventor: Scott Harder
  • Patent number: 7814703
    Abstract: A method of supporting vegetation in a multilayer vegetation support system on a roof, the method includes disposing a reservoir substrate on the roof. The reservoir substrate also includes a plurality of concave dimples separated by land areas. The method further includes disposing a composite on the reservoir substrate to overlay the plurality of dimples and forms a corresponding number of chambers defined by the reservoir structure and the composite, the composite having a root barrier layer and a multitude of projecting loops, the loops being interconnected at a multitude of locations spaced from the root barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventor: George Irwin
  • Publication number: 20100242357
    Abstract: The instant invention provides a kit for assembly of a raised garden bed. The raised garden bed includes panel members, corner connector members, and linear connector members constructed of a polymeric material and adapted to be snapped together into a substantially rigid raised garden bed without the need for special tools or excessive strength. A tongue and groove arrangement is also provided to allow for panel member stacking for increased garden bed height. The components of the kit are constructed and arranged to be packed into a relatively small profile for shipping and transport and are generally light enough to be loaded and unloaded without the need for equipment such as a forklift or pallet jack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Michael R. Vogler, Michael Thuma
  • Patent number: 7797880
    Abstract: A container for substantially surrounding a pole and a base stand of a device such as a floor lamp is disclosed. The container includes a sidewall integrally attached to a base panel to form a ballast volume and a fixture void extending into the ballast void. The container can take on a variety of shapes and can be split into two sections comprising an upper planter section and a lower reservoir section. The upper planter section includes a ballast volume and a pole void and can include a plurality of drain ports with or without attached protruding hollow legs. The lower reservoir section includes a ballast volume, a watering port, and a base stand void extending into the ballast volume. A wedge section can be provided to partially close off the fixture void to define the aperture in which a freestanding device such as a floor lamp is housed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventor: Maria N. Kamau
  • Patent number: 7730664
    Abstract: A plant container assembly (1) comprising two detachably connectable enclosure sections (3, 4), the assembly comprising attachment means (39) which is adapted to secure the sections in the direction of the height of the container, wherein, in an assembled condition, the attachment means is located internally of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Inventor: Alan John Larwood
  • Patent number: 7716873
    Abstract: A multilayer vegetation support system is provided, wherein the system includes a reservoir substrate and an overlying composite, wherein a growing medium and vegetation are disposed on an exposed surface of the composite. The reservoir substrate is a generally planar member having a plurality of recesses or dimples, and can include a plurality of drain apertures in land areas intermediate the dimples. The composite includes a water retention layer, a root barrier layer and a multitude of projecting loops, wherein a growing medium and vegetation overlie and intertwine with the projecting loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Green Living Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: George Irwin
  • Patent number: 7712254
    Abstract: At least one embodiment of the invention pertains to a collapsible planter apparatus is provided comprising (1) a floor section having one or more drainage holes, (2) a first side wall hingeably coupled to a first edge of the floor section, and (3) and a second side wall hingeably coupled to a second edge of the floor section opposite the first edge of the floor section. A third side wall may be removably coupled between the first and second side walls along a third edge of the floor section. A fourth side wall may also be removably coupled between the first and second side walls along a fourth edge of the floor section opposite the third edge of the floor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Klohr, Bobbie L. Klohr
  • Patent number: 7690150
    Abstract: A plant container with a pot and a coaster (2) made of plastic, in particular as a flowerpot, whereby the coaster (2) which is closed at the bottom to serve as a water dish is to be attached undetachably via coupling devices to the pot (1) which is provided with holes at the bottom and is designed in the sense of an easy but secure connection of the pot and the coaster in such a manner that the coaster (2) and the pot (1) are interconnected via coupling elements (11, 15) by at least one conically tapering guide face (9, 16) and are mutually engaged by a rotational movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Poeppelmann Holding GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Günther Orschulik
  • Publication number: 20100031568
    Abstract: A container watering system and method are provided. A gardening container can include an interior shell and an exterior shell. The interior shell includes an interior base and an interior wall. The exterior shell includes an exterior base and an exterior wall. The interior shell and exterior shell enclose a fill chamber. At least a portion of the fill chamber is between the interior base and the exterior base. The interior shell includes an interior opening that fluidicly couples the fill chamber with a volume partly enclosed by the interior wall. The exterior shell includes an exterior opening. The exterior opening is adjacent to the fill chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: Lee Burnett, DO, APC
    Inventor: Lee Burnett
  • Patent number: 7658034
    Abstract: A plant container having a plurality of holes in the bottom thereof, a plurality of legs are detachably connected to certain holes in the bottom thereof, and a length of wick extends through other holes in the bottom of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Inventor: John Dickson
  • Patent number: 7640695
    Abstract: A planter box for transplanting or removing trees, shrubs, or plant material. The planter box includes four corner members and a first and second channel arranged on each corner member. The box has a plurality of wall members arranged within the channels. A plurality of fastening members are arranged between the corner members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Arbor Pro Tree Service, Inc.
    Inventor: James G. Bonahoom
  • Publication number: 20090277084
    Abstract: A transplantable plant container assembly is provided for containing a growing medium for a plant that significantly promotes air root pruning. The container assembly includes a container device that includes a sidewall support and a bottom support collectively defining an interior cavity. The sidewall support is comprised of a lattice framework defining a plurality of spaced apertures that extend from an interior wall to an exterior wall thereof. A relatively thin, moisture absorbent liner material is disposed adjacent to the lattice framework. The liner material is sufficiently penetrable to enable root penetration therethrough, by the plant, at the apertures. However, the liner material must also have sufficient structural integrity, when moist, to bound the growing medium and moisture across the spaced apertures of the lattice framework when contained in the interior cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventor: Brian Kempf
  • Publication number: 20090260282
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a plant cultivating unit that can perform a watering operation in a simple manner and can supply water uniformly to plants in locations where a floor surface is sloped, such as the rooftop of a building, without requiring separate water supply piping work. A plant cultivating unit (1) comprises a water storage tray (2) in which water can be stored and in which receivers (3) for housing the roots of plants can be arranged in an interior thereof, a water storage space (8) in the water storage tray (2) and the receivers (3) being communicated via water feeders (7), and the water stored in the water storage space (8) being able to be supplied to the plants via the water feeders (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: SUNTORY LIMITED
    Inventors: Masaki Hashimoto, Katsuro Miyagawa, Masayuki Saito
  • Publication number: 20090255178
    Abstract: A plant pail includes a base and a wall extending upwardly from a periphery of the base. The wall includes an upper portion defining a mouth of the container and a body portion below the upper portion. The upper portion includes opposite portions of increased width, such that the opposite portions protrude outwardly relative to the body portion, thereby defining upper handles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Daniel Barbalho, Sean T. Ogburn
  • Publication number: 20090223124
    Abstract: A watering system for controllably dampening the growth medium supporting a potted plant. The system includes a housing arranged to surround the lower portion of the pot as it is suspended from the top of the housing by a holder plate. The holder plate includes major and minor apertures for receiving the pot and a water meter that measures the level of water within a reservoir (catch basin) defined at the bottom of the housing. Moisture is controllably transported from the reservoir into the growth medium by means of a wick whose opposed ends are submerged in the reservoir and inserted into the growth medium by means of an elongated insertion tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Antonio A. Pasquariello, Bonita Louise Griffin Kaake
  • Publication number: 20090183429
    Abstract: Disclosed is a prefabricated type flowerpot block. It can be assembled in a simple manner, it can perform root-balling for a predetermined period and it can allow a plant to be transplanted to thus be conveniently moved. Accordingly, it eliminates the trouble of planting a plant to be transplanted in the ground during a transplanting process, and thus it prevents the roots of a plant to be transplanted from being damaged while the plant is moved to a transplanting place. The prefabricated type flowerpot block can also function as a flowerpot to plant therein any size of plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Jung-Hoi Kim, Youn-Ja Jen
  • Publication number: 20090173002
    Abstract: A plant is grown to maturity in a transplant container and transplanted into a recipient's container. The transplant container has side walls that can be easily detached from the bottom after the transplant container has been placed into the recipient's container above growing media. After the side walls have been removed, growing media is added to a level above the roots. The bottom of the transplant container is easily penetrated by the roots of the plant and is left in the recipient's container with the plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventor: Clark P. Plihal
  • Publication number: 20090158653
    Abstract: A hanging planter provides a growing environment that allows a plant to grow in a substantially downward direction. The planter includes a structure with an interior surface that defines an interior chamber. The interior chamber receives a liner made of a material of the type suitable for retaining growing medium therein. The structure and liner include at least one opening that permits the plant to be positioned within the growing medium such that the root structure grows within the interior chamber and the stem portion grows downward without the need for external structure. Optionally, a self-watering system is included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: AMERICA'S GARDENING RESOURCE, INC.
    Inventors: Frank F. Oliver, Diane E. Fuchs
  • Patent number: 7533491
    Abstract: A garden bed assembly and extensions therefor is disclosed. The garden bed assembly includes at least one raised garden starter module containing suitable planting soil or other growing media for plants and may be extended using one or more extender modules, such as straight extender modules and/or corner extender modules. The assembly as disclosed herein includes one or more modules defining the planter. The front section of the starter module and the straight extender module may include a rotatable upper portion to provide convenient access to the plants. Each module section may have a substantially imperforate lower portion and a perforate upper portion prohibiting unwanted creatures such as gophers, rabbits and other animals from gaining access to the growing plants in the garden bed assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Modular Merchants, Inc.
    Inventors: Lisa R. Singer, Steven A. Singer
  • Patent number: 7533488
    Abstract: There is disclosed a garden bed assembly, a kit and a method of making it. The garden bed assembly includes at least one raised garden bed planter box for containing suitable planting soil or other growing media. The assembly as disclosed herein includes a fence for at least partially surrounding the box, and includes a series of fence sections. Each section has an open rigid frame and an open mesh material such as poultry wire or hardware cloth, extending thereacross to permit sunlight as well as pollinating bees to enter the assembly while prohibiting unwanted creatures such as a gophers, rabbits and other animals from gaining access to the growing plants in the garden bed box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Modular Merchants, Inc.
    Inventor: Lisa R. Singer
  • Publication number: 20090056215
    Abstract: A plantation pot includes a primary pot body having a side wall and a bottom delimiting a first interior space for containing a first amount of soil for growing a plant or a flower. The bottom of the primary pot body forms a plurality of openings for drainage of water. A circumferential rim is formed on the bottom of the primary pot body and forms external threads. A lower pot body has a side wall and a bottom defining a second interior space containing a second amount of soil. The lower pot body has a top opening forming internal threads engageable with the external threads of the rim fit into the top opening to secure the primary and lower pot bodies together. The plant is allowed to extend roots thereof into the lower pot body through the openings defined in the bottom of the primary pot body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: CHEN-SHENG YANG
  • Patent number: 7490435
    Abstract: There is disclosed a garden bed assembly and a method of making it. The garden bed assembly includes at least one planter containing suitable planting soil or other growing media. The assembly includes a fence/planter structure and an upright solid imperforate inner planter structure for defining the planter. The fence/planter structure includes a series of fence sections and a gate for surrounding the planter. Each fence/planter section has a solid imperforate lower portion to help define the planter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Modular Merchants, Inc.
    Inventor: Lisa R. Singer
  • Patent number: 7481025
    Abstract: An apparatus bounds and retains the medium in which a transplantable plant is grown, and promotes the production of lateral root tips by such a plant at all levels in the growth medium. The apparatus includes a sheet having a plurality of hollow protuberances formed with proximal protuberance openings that communicate with distal protuberance openings. The protuberances provide pathways that mimic the natural tendency of the plant roots, so as to decrease the likelihood of the root tips evading the protuberances and promote root-tip growth towards the distal protuberance openings whereby air-root pruning is assured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Lacebark, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Whitcomb
  • Publication number: 20080313959
    Abstract: There is disclosed a garden bed assembly, a kit and a method of making it. The garden bed assembly includes at least one raised garden bed planter box for containing suitable planting soil or other growing media. The assembly as disclosed herein includes a fence for at least partially surrounding the box, and includes a series of fence sections. Each section has an open rigid frame and an open mesh material such as poultry wire or hardware cloth, extending thereacross to permit sunlight as well as pollinating bees to enter the assembly while prohibiting unwanted creatures such as a gophers, rabbits and other animals from gaining access to the growing plants in the garden bed box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Lisa R. Singer
  • Publication number: 20080271370
    Abstract: A planter having (a) a base element sized to accommodate a plant, said base having one or more side elements that form a wall of said base, said base having a upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion having a first base mating edge and an integrally formed flange that extends horizontally and upwardly from said upper portion of the base to form a second base mating edge; and (b) a circumferential rim forming element having a first rim mating edge that is sized to engage the first base mating edge of said upper portion of said base element and having a second rim mating edge that is sized to engage said second base mating edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: Missry Associates Inc.
    Inventor: Morris Moskowitz
  • Patent number: 7428798
    Abstract: A plant pot having a wider base than throat and which can be vertically separated into two substantially identical pieces is provided. The plant pot preferably comprises a first pot member and a second pot member that are capable of engaging and disengaging each other. Complementary edges on the first pot member and the second pot member allow such members to define a substantially continuous inner wall when the first pot member and the second pot member are engaged. At least one retainer extends about an outer surface of the plant pot to retain the first pot member and the second pot member in an engaged position. In one embodiment, the first pot member and the second pot member are identical such that they are manufactured from the same mold thereby reducing manufacturing costs and simplifying production of such plant pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Inventor: William T. Abney, II
  • Patent number: 7424787
    Abstract: There is disclosed a garden bed assembly, a kit and a method of making it. The garden bed assembly includes at least one raised garden bed planter box for containing suitable planting soil or other growing media. The assembly as disclosed herein includes a fence for at least partially surrounding the box, and includes a series of fence sections. Each section has an open rigid frame and an open mesh material such as poultry wire or hardware cloth, extending thereacross to permit sunlight as well as pollinating bees to enter the assembly while prohibiting unwanted creatures such as a gophers, rabbits and other animals from gaining access to the growing plants in the garden bed box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Modular Merchants, Inc.
    Inventor: Lisa R. Singer
  • Publication number: 20080172938
    Abstract: This invention is an automatic sprout vending machine which provides racks for seeds to rest upon for automatically sprouting or germinating such seeds. In one embodiment, the automatic sprout vending machine comprises a housing having, preferably, an upper compartment, a lower compartment and a middle section. The middle section has a plurality of racks which are adapted to slidably receive and release a corresponding plurality of modules. In this embodiment, each of the plurality of modules includes at least on seed germinating tray having seeds mounted in the bottom thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventor: Sidney S. Azoulay
  • Publication number: 20080120905
    Abstract: A sectional-type raised garden bed structure includes a first wall section being provided at an end with at least one mortise, a second wall section being provided at an end with at least one tenon adapted to engage with the at least one mortise on the first wall section for connecting the first and the second wall section together. The tenon is flexible for the connected first and second wall sections to contain a predetermined angle therebetween according to actual need.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Hung Ta Pai
  • Patent number: 7353635
    Abstract: A tree root ball wrapping apparatus (100) includes a circular platform (109, 113) for supporting a separable, open-frame, root-containment structure (103, 105, 107) having an inverted conical shape. A group of pivot joints (201, 203, 205, 207) are located at an upper section of the root-containment structure for separating the root-containment structure into half sections. In practice, the group of pivot joints can be opened during tree transplantation for providing removal of a root ball from the wrapping apparatus by opening the sections at the group of pivot joints for easily facilitating removal of the wrapping apparatus (100) from within a transplantation hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Inventor: William P. Westrate
  • Publication number: 20070227068
    Abstract: The wraparound flower planter includes two almost-identical semicylindrical members and releasable fasteners for securing the two members together so that the wraparound flower planter is maintained in a closed position around the base of a tree, or other columnar support. Each of the semicylindrical pot members has an open upper end, an open lower end, and a surrounding sidewall. A pair of diametrically opposed interior planar walls extend radially inward from the sidewall. A substantially semicylindrical inner wall coaxial with the sidewall extends between inner edges of the interior planar walls from the open upper end to the bottom edge of the interior planar walls, defining a cylindrical channel extending through the pot. A shelf extends between the sidewall and the inner wall, forming the floor of a generally U-shaped peripheral channel. The shelf has a plurality of drainage apertures disposed therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventor: Russell Cataldi
  • Patent number: 7171781
    Abstract: A plant pot system includes an inner pot and an outer coded container pot. The inner plant pot includes a lip lock ridge and belt. The outer coded container pot includes a lip lock band and groove; and has one of a range of appearances. The inner plant pot containing a plant is placed within the outer pot and locks into place by engagement of the ridge in the groove so the combined pots have the appearance of the selected outer pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Amerikan, LLC
    Inventor: Donald Southern
  • Patent number: 7155860
    Abstract: An umbrella mountable flower pot apparatus includes a container that has a bottom wall and a perimeter wall that is attached to and extends upwardly from the bottom wall. The container has a hemispherical shape. A dividing wall is attached to and extends across the container. An aperture extends upwardly through the bottom wall and through the dividing wall. The container has a break therein so that the first portion is separable from the second portion and a pair of dividing walls is defined. A coupling apparatus is attached to the first and second portions and is configured to secure the first and second portions together and to a post extending through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Inventor: George W. Ferguson, III
  • Patent number: 7036272
    Abstract: A plant container consisting of decayable and ecologically safe materials is collapsible and assembled from its parts consisting of a pre-cut casing (1) and a bottom (2) made of dimensionally stable wire mesh or biologically degradable plastic and a decayable organic material attached thereto. The plant container can be inexpensively transported and easily assembled just before it is put to use. It is permeable to water and air, prevents the accumulation of wetness, root rot and mildew, hinders the formation of spiraling roots and promotes a safe growth of the plant. The plant container is robust and dimensionally stable and therefore suited for use with planting machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Inventor: Hermann Stoever
  • Patent number: 6986222
    Abstract: A planting assembly (10) including a flexible trough member (12) which may selectively form a plurality of members which may be then selectively interconnected in any desired manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Inventor: Bradley Cochran
  • Patent number: 6978575
    Abstract: A water regulating plant container including a body having opposed side walls and opposed end walls terminating at a top edge in a rim and at a bottom edge by an inwardly directed flange extending from each opposed side wall. A raised bottom is carried by and coupled to the inwardly directed flanges and defines an underlying channel. The raised bottom has an aperture therethrough with a standing pipe extending upwardly from the raised bottom encircling the aperture. A tray is removably received by the channel under the raised bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Inventor: Treg Bradley
  • Patent number: 6964129
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multifunctional container (1) comprising two container sections (3, 4), each having a base (5) and at least two side walls (8, 9) to define an enclosed space (7) open at the top, one of said side walls (9) on each container section (3, 4) having magnetic means located on said side wall (9) of each of the container sections to permit the container sections to be easily joined and separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Dennison Associates
    Inventor: Roy Fenwick
  • Patent number: 6837002
    Abstract: A modular type tray (1) for hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation is described, in which the nutritive solution is carried to the roots of plants grown in the tray by a tube with built-in drips (2) situated in a slot (3) on the tray bottom. The tray consists of at least one plastic casing made by extrusion, a pair of closing flanges (5, 6) to be fixed to the opposite tray ends and (if necessary) at least one middle flange (7), placed between two plastic casings to join them together with a watertight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Said S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giancarlo Costa